Plate frame for supporting artificial teeth and method of making same



June 24, 1930. J, H Lm -m 1,767,130

PLATE FRAME FOR SUPPORTING ARTIFICIAL TEETH AND'IETHOD OF MAKING SAIE Filed July 16. 1928 111a AT'TORNEY.

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEPTHA G. noLLmeswoarn, or KANSAS CITY, ivrrssounr PLATE FRAME FOR SUPPORTING ARTIFICIAL TEETH AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Application filed July 16,

My invention relates to improvements in plate frames for supporting artificial teeth and methods of making same.

A plate frame for supporting artificial teeth is made, as ordinarily p'racticed,by forming over a matrix a single metal plate. This method has some disadvantages, one of -which is the difliculty of removing 'theformed plate from' the. matrix incases where, as often occurs, the outer side of the gum portion of the matrix is recessed or undercut. Another disadvantage of the old method is that, in forming the palate portion of the plate, such portion in the drawing operation, is made thinner, and the operation of drawing, or forming the palate portion to the matrix, efiects a distortion of the portions which are formed over the gum portion of the matrix.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved method of making the frame, which eliminates these objectionable features; which is easily and quickly .practiced by an operator of just average skill;

: which enables the frame parts to be readily removed from the matrix; which does not unduly stretch the metal or distort one part in the forming of another part; and which provides a simple and eflicient means by which the hard rubber is securely aflixed to the frame.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a plate frame made in accordance with the principles method.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which il- 40 lustrates my improved plate frame, the parts from which it is made, and the matrix on which the parts are formed,

Fig.1 is an under plan View of my im: proved plate frame" shown mounted on a matrix or mold upon which the framewas of my improved of the person. The blank 6 is formed on 1928. Serial No. 293,239.

formed, the matrix being derived from the upper jaw of a person.

- Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a plan view of the matrix with one member of the gum portion of the frame shown formed thereon.

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing both members of the gum portion of the plate formed on the matrix.

Fig. 5 is a section on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 1, the matrix being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a front edge View of the completed frame. 7

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blanks from which the igumga'nd palate portions of. the frame are made. I

Fig. 8-is a plan. view of the formed gum and palate portionsof the frame detached. from each other. I

Similar reference. characters designate similar partsv in the different views.

In carrying my improved method into effect a matrix 1 is made in the usual manner, the matrix shown, being derived from the upper jaw of the person for whom the plate frame is made. I I

' In cases where the outer side of the gum. portion 20f the matrix 1 is recessed or undercut, as at 3, Fig. 2, the gum portion of the plate frame is composed of'two plates 4 and 5, which are respectively obtained by forming two blanks 6 and 7, Fig. 7 on the gum portion 2 of the matrix, the blanks being composed of suitable pliable material, such as isusually employed for plate frames,

such as gold or gold alloy plates.

The blank 6 is first formed on that por tion; of the gum portion 2 of the matrix, which corresponds to the left side of the jaw the matrix to make the plate 4: by being hammered to form in the usual way. Thev blank 7 is then placed over the remaining portion of the gum portion 2 of the 06 matrix, preferably overlapping the plate 4 at the front of the matrix, and is then hammered to form the plate 5, the plate 4 being left on the matrix, so that the overlapping portion of the plate 5 is conformed thereto, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. As shown, the blanks 6 and 7 are of such width that the formed plates 4 and 5 will be substantially co-extensive in width with the gum portion 2 only of the matrix. Thus, when the separate palate portion 10 is formed over the palate portion '9 of the matrix, the deep forming required will not cause any distortion of the formed gum portions .of the frame such as might occur were the plates 4 and 5 extended across the palate portion 9 .of the matrix, as in cases where a single'plate is formed over the gum and palate portions. r

The palate blank 8, Fig. 7, is then placed upon the matrix 1 over the palate portion 9 thereof, and upon the formed plates 4 and 5, following which the blank 8 is hammered to conform to the matrix portion 9 and to the plates 4 and 5, so as to make the palate plate 10, as shown in Fig. 1. j r r The palate plate 10 has its peripheral portions, which are adjacent to the plates 4 and 5, overlapping such plates, the edge 11 of such peripheral portions projecting, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, from the adjacent surfaces of the plates 4 and 5, thereby affording a means by which the hard rubber, not shown, which carries the artificial teeth, is securely anchored to the-plate frame.

.. The overlapping portions of the plates 4, 5 and 10 are then united to each other, as by welding or soldering, in the positions as occupied by them in Fig. l.

The outer edges of the plates 4 and 5 may then have attached to them in the usual manner, as by soldering or welding, a wire 12, for stiffening the frame and for anchoring thereto the hard rubber above referred to. The ends of the wire 12 respectively overlap and are soldered or welded to the palate plate 10 at the rear end and opposite projecting edges thereof, as shown in Fig.

1. The front and middle portion of the frame has a. recess 13 for receiving the muscle which connects the inner side of the upper lip with the front'middle portion of the upper gum of the person. The wire 12 ,has an inverted U shaped portion 14 following the edge of said recess 13, Fig. 6.

By forming'the blanks 6 and '7 on the matrix, one after the other, and using two blanks for making the gum portion of the frame, the formed plates 4 and 5 are readily removable from the matrix eventhough the outer side of the gum portion 2 of the matrix is recessed or undercut, as shown in Fig. 2.

In case that the outer side of said gum portion of the matrix is not recessed or undercut, then the part comprising the other formed parts of the frame, as is often done when the frame is formed on the matrix from a single plate. Also the use of a separate plate 10 enables the use of its peripheral edge as an anchor for the hard rubber, thus dispensing with the usual wire which is soldered to the frame in the place occupied, in my construction, by the edge 11 of the plate 10.

I do not limit my invention to the precise steps and construction illustrated and de scribed, as modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made with out departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. The method of making a plate frame for'supporting artificial teeth, consisting in forming by bending over the gum portion of amatrix two sheet metal plates of pliable frame forming material, adjacent end portions of said plates meeting at the front part of said matrix, forming over the palate portion of said matrix a pliable plate, and uniting adjacent portions of said two plates with each otherand with the adjacent peripheral portions of the other plate.

2. The method of making a plate frame for supporting artificial teeth, consisting in forming by bending over the gum portion of a matrix two sheet metal plates of pliable frame forming material, adjacent end portions of said plates overlapping each other at the front part of said matrix, forming over the palate portion of said matrix a pliable plate adjacent peripheral portions of which overlap said two formedplates and the edge of which peripheral portions project from the adjacent surfaces of said two formed plates, and uniting the adjacent portions of said three plates with each other.

I 3. The method of making a plate frame for supporting artificial teeth, consisting in forming by bending over the gum portion of a matrix two sheet metal plates of pliable frame forming material, adjacent end portions of which plates meet at the front part of said gum portion, then forming over the palate portion of the matrix and over said formed plates a pliable plate peripheral portions of which overlap said formed .plates, and uniting said plates with each other at their contacting portions.

4. The method of forming a plate frame for supporting artificial teeth, consisting in forming, by bending, over the gum portion of a matrix pliable sheet metal substantially coextensive in Width With the gum portion only of the matrix, forming over the palate portion of the matrix a separate pliable sheet metal plate, and uniting adjacent peripheral portions of sheet metal plate with the adjacent inner edge portions of said formed sheet metal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

J EPTHA G. HOLLINGSWORTH. 

